2 Types of COVID Testing
Peter and I got swabbed for coronavirus 🦠 last week before visiting my parents over the Memorial Day weekend. (As healthcare professionals 🥼 we didn't want to take any chances. We went to a drive thru site, and it took about 4 days for the results.) What exactly does this test tell you and how is it different from the blood test some people get? 🤷🏻♀️
A nasal swab (or mouth swab at some sites) tests for the presence of actual virus particles and can tell you if you have an ACTIVE infection. 🤒 This test is just a moment in time, and even though we were negative, we can still contract the virus in the future. (If the test had been positive, we would have quarantined and expected to develop symptoms in the next few days. 🤧)
The antibody test requires a blood draw 🩸and can tell you if you've had the infection in the PAST (beyond 1-3 weeks). In most cases, having antibodies would grant you immunity to an infection (since your body knows how to fight it), but with COVID19 it is still unclear if that is indeed the case or how long that immunity lasts.
Lastly, if you think you are sick with COVID19 (fevers, coughing, shortness of breath), please call your doctor for instructions and recommendations. The jury is still out whether asymptomatic, low risk people should be tested - while the data would be extremely helpful to figure out how much of the population are/were asymptomatic carriers, many areas/states do not have the capability to test everyone. 🧪
